When to Rotate

Periodic tire rotation helps ensure even wear on all four tires. This is extremely important because a consistent degree of wear on the tires allows you to maximize your handling and control. Even if you were to purchase and replace all four tires at once, tires wear at different rates depending on where they are mounted on the vehicle. When tires differ in the degree of wear, a car’s behavior can be less consistent, controllable and predictable. Lack of tread on tires can cause unsafe driving conditions, where the tires can’t grip the road during various conditions.

Vehicle manufacturers recommend rotating your vehicle’s tires between the front and back a few times per year in order to keep your tires in a similar condition to the others. This will allow you to consistently maximize the handling of your vehicle and will make it where you will typically replace your tires at the same time. Whether or not you have a front-wheel drive or an all-wheel drive, it is recommended that drivers rotate their tires. To find out the best wheel rotation schedule for your vehicle, check your owner’s manual to see if there are any manufacturer recommendations. If there isn’t a specified rotation period, it is typical for tires to be rotated every 5,000 to 8,000 miles.

Save Money

By rotating your tires, you prevent one or two tires from taking on the brunt of the wear which would lead to premature replacement. Keep in mind that a tire rotation shouldn't cost you more than $25, and you can usually cut that cost, or eliminate it completely, by getting your tires rotated when you are getting your vehicle serviced during an oil change or when checking your brakes.